YSM is saddened by the news of the passing of our former long-serving CEO Rick Tobias on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
His family shared the following note:
The family of Rick Tobias is deeply saddened to inform his friends that after a sudden worsening of his condition, Rick died today (May 18) in the palliative care unit at Michael Garron Hospital in East Toronto. His family was with him throughout his passing. An announcement will be made at a later date about arrangements for a memorial service.
Thank you for all your love, care, and concern as he journeyed through this final chapter of his life.
YSM knows well how Rick was loved by so many and we are all mourning his loss. We will share information about the memorial service and any other plans to honour his memory as details become available.
As a means of acknowledging Rick and his legacy, we invite YSM donors and friends who knew and loved Rick to send us condolence notes, memories and stories that we will compile into a memory book for his family. Please email avelthuizen@ysm.ca or forward any notes to Alisa Velthuizen at Yonge Street Mission, 306 Gerrard St. E., Toronto, ON M5A 2G7 and we will deliver them to the family when appropriate.
YSM works with three distinct groups, providing programs and services designed specifically to support and propel our neighbours to remove barriers in their lives, overcome poverty and reach their personal goals.
YSM Evergreen’s services provide wrap-around care and support for challenges faced by Toronto’s street-involved youth (16-24 years). From health and dental care, employment services, mental health counselling, warm meals and much more, we help youth find their potential and work towards their goals.
We work to strengthen families, to help them stay together as a unit. Workshops on parenting, after school programming, skill development, care management and much more cater to the unique needs of struggling families.
YSM’S Bridges services support adults working towards a better life through personalized wrap around care, small group learning, warm meals, and community connection. We focus on helping adults aged 18-60 to improve their emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing by setting and reaching goals.
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